English cricket chiefs confirmed on Monday they have held talks with Indian Premier League (IPL) owners about acquiring a stake in their domestic Hundred competition. The fourth edition of the controversial 100-balls per side tournament, which features eight specially created teams — each with a men’s and women’s side — rather than the traditional 18 first-class English counties, starts on Tuesday. Its future remains uncertain, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) looking to secure private investment in a bid to cement its position in the global calendar and boost the finances of the domestic game.

The ECB are trying to balance a desire for a cash injection while retaining control of the Hundred by selling off a 49 percent stake in each team to private investors, with host teams retaining the remaining 51 percent of shares.

But the hosts could sell part or all of their shares.

“Control comes at different levels, it comes at team level and it comes at competition level — that’s not something we are ceding control of,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould told reporters during a conference call.

“Different investor groups have different needs, for some it is about control of what happens on the field, for others it’s the commercial element.

“You’re right about the strength of the Indian market — it represents probably 90 percent of the revenues coming into the ICC (International Cricket Council) and we have seen the proliferation of IPL teams moving outside of their home market into other national markets. I think that’s to be welcomed,” he added.   

The cash-rich T20 IPL, a multi-million dollars spectacle underpinned by the mass enthusiasm for cricket in India, the world’s most populous nation, has changed the sport’s global landscape, with players no longer needing to go through the grind of five-day international Test matches in order to enjoy lucrative careers.

There is a view that IPL owners, such as the billionaire Ambani family who are in charge of the Mumbai Indians, would only be interested in full control of a Hundred team.

“There is certainly the opportunity for people to have potentially 100 percent ownership,” said Gould. 

“It depends on the capabilities they can bring both in terms of finance and operation delivery.”

The ECB’s director of business operations Vikram Banerjee said while he had spoken to IPL owners about the Hundred, he was also open to offers from American Football’s NFL.

“I’ve now met and spoken to, a number of times, all the IPL owners and WPL (Women’s Premier League) owners that don’t overlap and there is interest there, from what they’ve told me, which is fantastic and lends into a very exciting process,” Banerjee said.

“I would really hope we have a level of partnerships with some IPL teams, I think that would be brilliant. They have done a great job and know cricket very well.”

He added: “At the same time, we’ve just sent out a document and video to some NFL owners that explains what cricket is and what the rules are. 

“In terms of fan engagement, how they can build stadia experience and bring in the next generation, those guys are amazing.

“So, we can bring that blend together, which I think is what we hope to do and that can work really well.”

He left the Caribbean basking in the glory of his success in India’s triumphal march to their first ICC tournament title in 11 years. However, in a mere three weeks, Hardik Pandya‘s world has turned upside down. Elite sport can be ruthless and Pandya found that out when he was pipped by Suryakumar Yadav for the post of captain of the Indian T20 side for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka while battling problems on personal front.

The vote of ‘no confidence’ in his leadership ability was so emphatic and in your face that it has left the flamboyant all-rounder facing another big question thanks to one of the most dramatic twists in Indian cricket.

Will Mumbai Indians, the franchise with the deepest pocket and biggest say in the IPL Universe, be ready to give one more year to their current preferred leader Pandya, who replaced their most popular captain (Rohit Sharma) in acrimonious circumstances last year? By leading the team to the T20 World Cup title, Rohit has elevated himself to a position which is second only to Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Indian cricket, barely few months after being dumped by his IPL franchise.

So how do they deal with Rohit before the mega auction next year and what if the Indian skipper isn’t interested in retention.

To make matters more intriguing, MI also have the new Indian T20 captain Surya in their roster, and they will have to retain him at all cost going into next year’s mega auction.

For an Indian skipper’s retention, MI might have to make an offer Surya can’t refuse. As an India captain, what if he now harbours an ambition of also leading the IPL’s most popular franchise.

There is also another angle that needs to be pondered. It is an open secret in Indian cricket that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah loves the leadership role but since his skills are as precious as gold kept in Fort Knox, he can’t be always summoned to lead the team. But he wouldn’t mind being the first among the equals to be retained.

So where does all this leave Pandya, who moved to MI after a very successful stint with Gujarat Titans following a much-publicised all-cash deal, only to be booed in every nook and corner of the country during the last IPL.

The IPL Governing Council hasn’t yet announced how many retention they will allow and if it is kept at four with one being an overseas player, it leaves the franchise with three Indian choices.

The upcoming mega auction will be all about creating a team for the next five years and some harsh calls will have to be taken.

Those in MI’s core management team, with hands on their hearts, will agree that the manner in which Pandya was elevated as the skipper didn’t end up creating a happy environment, and the last-place finish only strengthened those theories.

Gautam Gambhir‘s entry as India head coach obviously put a spanner in Pandya’s national captaincy prospects but even the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar wasn’t completely convinced that he is tactically as sound as one expects an international skipper to be.

He needs a bit of handholding and Ashish Nehra did that at GT. Mark Boucher wasn’t that man at MI and as per a general feedback, the younger lot in the Indian dressing room have a chance of responding way better to Surya than to Pandya.

What is the road ahead for Pandya right now? A terrific performance first up in the Sri Lanka T20Is to drive home a point. Also he can’t just wait for India games as he will have to play domestic cricket to improve his his below-par international appearance percentage of 50 percent across two white ball formats in last 19 months (69 games (46 out of 79 T20Is and 23 ODIs out of 59 ODIs since Jan 22).

Indian cricket is always full of twists and turns and if Pandya wants to go to the Champions Trophy next year, he will have to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda in December.

Pandya’s leadership ambitions have faced a massive roadblock but in cricket, it ain’t over till the last ball is bowled.

Veteran Indian spinner Amit Mishra, one of the highest wicket-takers in Indian Premier League, has admitted to have done age fudging. During a candid chat on a podcast, Mishra, who plays for Lucknow Super Giants at present, admitted that his coach asked him to decrease his age by one year while he was a youngster.

In what is a big revelation of age fraud, Mishra revealed he was actually 22 years old when played his debut match for India in 2003, instead of the 21 which was documented. It was his coach who convinced him to make the required change.

“Let me tell you, I have a one-year discrepancy, and my coach helped with that. I didn’t even know about it. The coach called my home and asked for one more year for me. It was quite an emotional story. I was surprised and asked, ‘How?’ He said, ‘From today, you are one year younger; now you have two more years.’ I agreed,” said Mishra on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast.

That ”Arre yaar” felt personal pic.twitter.com/oZ9nsYZao7

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 1, 2024

The topic was discussed on the podcast after the IPL 2024 chat between Amit Mishra and Rohit Sharma was brought about. As Mumbai Indians took on Lucknow Super Giants, Rohit had poked fun at Mishra, asking if he was really 41.

“You made your debut when we in our nappies. That’s when you made your debut. You made your debut when you were 20?” added Rohit before Amit Mishra replied: “Yes. 20-21.”

When asked to share insights on the conversation he had with Rohit, the veteran spinner revealed that he also asked the Hitman if he was really 37.

“Not diapers, but he said when we were young. I told him, ‘I also watched someone play when I was young.’ Many people start playing early; it doesn’t mean they are now 45 or 50. He laughed and said, ‘I’m 37.’ I later confirmed and said, ‘Are you really 37?’ He laughed and didn’t say anything,” Mishra revealed.

“If I had questioned that are you 37, what would have happened? But I thought, it’s okay, we were joking, and he joked with me. And that’s how it is with me, joking around with him. It’s been going on for a long time, not just today,” he added.

File image of Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting.© AFP

After SRH paid Rs 20.5 crore for Pat Cummins, KKR splashed Rs 24.75 crore on Mitchell Starc.© BCCI

After months of criticism and trolling, India vice-captain Hardik Pandya finally found his night of reckoning and glory as he helped India win the T20 World Cup last week in Barbados. Prior to the tournament, Hardik was brutally targetted by fans owing to his poor form in IPL 2024, and also over the fact that he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI). Under Hardik’s leadership, MI finished the season bottom of the points table.

Some fans were also not happy with Hardik’s inclsuion in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. However, Hardik was one of India’s match-winners in the final and was influencial for them throughout the tournament.

His performance in the final saw a huge change in behaviour of fans towards him. In fact, a young girl even apologised to him on live television.

Now, out-of-favour India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan has recalled what Hardik told him when fans were going after him.

“I had a gut feeling that he (Hardik) was saving it all for the World Cup. I will never forget his words: ‘Ek baar performance aa jaaye fir jo aaj gaali de rahe wahi taaliyaan bajayenge (Once I start performing, those who are abusing me will be clapping for me). This is what he told me when I was also going through a really tough time. He said ‘let people talk, we will do our best and give 100 percent to the game we love’,” Kishan told the Indian Express.

Kishan, who lost his central contract and was seen training with Hardik before the IPL, also revealed how the India vice-captain never complained about the fan’s treatment of him.

“It is difficult to explain in words the past six months he has had, as there were all kinds of things said and written about him. But he never lost his cool. I was with him during most of that time – be it training with him in Vadodara or during the IPL – and I never heard him cribbing ki yaar, aisa kyun ho raha hai mere saath (Mate, why is this happening with me). He was calm about it, took it in a very sporting manner, and just focused on the game,” he explained.

“I remember Hardik bhai saying once during the IPL, ‘Jo haath mai nahi hai uske baare mey kya sochna. Log bol rahe hain, kyu bol rahe, wo sab control nahi kar sakte (Those things which are not in our hands, we can’t control. If I keep on thinking about what people are saying, I will lose it). The same bunch that has criticised me will celebrate me in the future and I just have to take it in a very sporting manner,” Kishan added.

Venkatesh Iyer gets married to Shruti Raghunathan© X (Twitter)

Australia cricket legend Ricky Ponting has predicted India’s fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to be the leading wicket-taker in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Bumrah had missed the 2022 edition of the tournament in Australia due to a back injury, which later needed surgery. Bumrah comes into the showpiece event after taking 20 wickets in 13 games for Mumbai Indians, with an astonishing economy rate of 6.48, finishing third in the Purple Cap race.

“My leading wicket-taker for the tournament will be Jasprit Bumrah. I just think an outstanding performer, contributor for a number of years now. He’s just come off an outstanding IPL. What he can do with the new ball, he swings the new ball, he has the seam up.

“His economy rate at the end of the IPL was less than seven runs an over. He takes wickets. He does bowl a lot of the hard overs too. When you bowl the hard overs in T20 cricket, it gives you a chance to pick up a lot of wickets along the way. So, I’m going with him,” Ponting told The ICC Review show.

He also believes Australia’s left-handed opener Travis Head could be the top run-scorer in the upcoming tournament. Head, the Player of the Match in last year’s ODI World Cup final, scored 567 runs in 15 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 at a strike-rate of 191.55, though he struggled for runs at the back end of the tournament.

“My prediction for the leading run-scorer will be Travis Head. I just think everything he’s done, whether it be red-ball or white-ball in the last couple of years, has been of the highest quality. I think he’s playing fearless cricket at the moment.

“His IPL had its ups and downs, but when it’s been good, it’s been very good. And it has won games of cricket for his team. And it’ll be exactly the same for Australia – so, look, he might not be the most consistent on the way through this tournament.

“But he’ll be right up there, I’m sure, with the leading run scorers. And as I’ve said, if he spends any amount of time at the wicket for Australia, he’ll win more games than ever,” added Ponting.

The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup will begin on June 1, with the opening match between co-hosts USA and Canada at Dallas. Australia will open their campaign against Group B opponents Oman at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 5. India also play their first game of the competition on the same day, against Ireland at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York.

Former India captain and Delhi Capitals director of cricket Sourav Ganguly is in favour of continuing with the impact-player rule in IPL, but wants teams to decide their picks at the toss. The impact-player rule has become a hot topic of debate following the recently-concluded edition of IPL where scores in excess of 250 runs were notched up eight times. Ganguly added he wants the boundaries to be pushed further back in upcoming IPL editions. “I like the impact player rule. My only thing with IPL is that I just want the grounds to be a bit bigger. The fences should go a little behind,” Ganguly told the media on the sidelines of the International Procurement and Supply Chain Conference organised by the Blue Ocean Corporation.

“It is a great tournament. The only thing you can do with the impact player is decide before the toss, so it’s a bit of skill there.

“So, have the impact player revealed before because that will require a lot of skill and game plan. But, I am all for the impact player,” the former India skipper said.

Ganguly defended Prithvi Shaw, who had a below-par IPL season this year, saying he is still young and learning the tricks of the shortest format.

“He (Prithvi Shaw) is a young kid. He is just 23. He is still learning how to play T20 cricket. He is a very fine talent and he will get better. Sometimes, we expect too much too early from everyone and I am sure Prithvi, with the skills he has, he will do well,” he added.

Ganguly said wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant had started playing like the cricketer he was before the car crash in 2022.

“He was superb for us (DC) in the IPL. I was so happy to see the way he came back, because I have always said that he is a special player,” Ganguly said.

“Even earlier, I have said that he is exceptional. You don’t want such talent to be lost for such disastrous reasons (accident). He has really worked hard to get back to where he is and he is the Rishabh Pant of old.” Ganguly also hoped that the Bengal selectors will pick India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha as he looks to return to his home state from Tripura.

“He wants to play for Bengal and rightfully so. He is a Bengal boy,” Ganguly said.

“He went away to Tripura for two years because he was playing there as a professional. He has finished that and he wants to be in Bengal. I am sure the selectors will pick him for Bengal.

“I am not involved in Bengal cricket at the moment. I didn’t fight for the presidentship when I finished (my) BCCI (stint). I have just taken a break. Whatever the selectors and the officials decide, they will do,” he added.

File photo of Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir© Twitter